Cubs (Boyd) vs Mets (Canning): 5/11/25, 11:05am

[BKHoo]

The Rockies have a superior bullpen ERA compared to the Cubs.  You are right that the Nats is worse in every category.  They have easily the statistically worst bullpen in baseball.  My point was that the Cubs are so bad that you have to realize that some of these upcoming teams have better bullpens, and the bullpen pitches what, on average, close to 45% of your innings?

We need to figure this pen out.

[17 Seconds]

1 hour ago, BKHoo said:

While we can say (with numbers) that the upcoming schedule looks easier. We also have to admit that every team we will play, except for the Marlins, has a superior bullpen to the Cubs. 

we all know the bullpen sucks, you don't need to talk yourself into believing that lousy teams have the advantage over us because of it

[squally1313]

35 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Is Hoyer prepared to pay the price tag, I mentioned, if Happ' injury lingers, giving Ballesteros a try, however, I'm all for trading him while his value is at it's highest point.  Is Hoyer?  Or, more likely, what bargain bin starting pitching will he target?  Don't know who but, I'm certain there's plenty of these types he'll have on his shopping list.

Well there's some combination of the financial price tag and the prospect price tag, depending on the target being discussed. I think there's been some hesitancy in dipping into the AAA guys because the major league guys, over the course of the last couple seasons, simply haven't gotten it done yet, and I could understand the nervousness is trading the next wave to supplement this wave if this wave just isn't going to get there. In my head there's this long drawn out analysis centered around like, they need to decide if they want Tucker at $400m-$500m and a team set up to win this year and next or if they want Caissie and Alcantara and the financial freedom to build a different core.

But ultimately I would simply like them to go 14-7 over these next 21 games against Col/Mia/Wash/CWS/Cincy, be sitting at 37-25 on June 5th with Shota being close to coming back, and force their hand into just going for it this year. They you pay the ransom for Mackenzie Gore, you do everything you can to lock in Tucker, you find a bullpen guy or two (or have Horton/Brown turn into that guy), and all the chips are on the table. 

[thawv]

2 hours ago, gflore34 said:

If this Happ injury is going to be a thing and let's face it, it's the Cubs, and it probably will be a thing.  I wonder if any thought will given towards a Ballesteros cup of coffee at DH?  He certainly cannot perform any worse than the corpse of Justin Turner.

If Happ goes on the DL, it won't be a bad idea to do exactly that. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

This pen was never going to be great but I question Hottovy and co,'s ability to coax the best stuff out of their guys. Even the guys with velo aren't missing bats and they're walking the world. 

 

IDK maybe it's the strategists, the catchers, the pitchers, the stupid sport, all of the above. But I pretty much don't feel confident with 70% of the pitching staff.

[Dfan25]

12 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

This pen was never going to be great but I question Hottovy and co,'s ability to coax the best stuff out of their guys. Even the guys with velo aren't missing bats and they're walking the world. 

 

IDK maybe it's the strategists, the catchers, the pitchers, the stupid sport, all of the above. But I pretty much don't feel confident with 70% of the pitching staff.

Cubs organization simply isn’t good with relief arms .  The reliever that everybody says is their best is walking over 5 guys per inning while his k rate has gone down and HRs up . .  They don’t have one single reliever that I feel comfortable giving the ball to in a tied or 1 run game . 

[Dfan25]

Yeah , I think if Happ takes an il trip , Ballesteros to DH makes sense . They can’t continue giving Turner these abs in that scenario . I wonder how long they will wait with him ?  With that said I think Alcantara will be up in such scenario 

[Dfan25]

2 hours ago, BKHoo said:

The Rockies have a superior bullpen ERA compared to the Cubs.  You are right that the Nats is worse in every category.  They have easily the statistically worst bullpen in baseball.  My point was that the Cubs are so bad that you have to realize that some of these upcoming teams have better bullpens, and the bullpen pitches what, on average, close to 45% of your innings?

We need to figure this pen out.

In reality they need 2 high leverage arms if not 3 . They won’t be able to match what other playoffs teams have in their pens , but they have to get more competitive in that area  for sure .

[Geographyhater8888]

22 hours ago, thawv said:

The bench gets exposed when they play too much.  Not having a 3B means playing a bench player every game.  Busch not hitting LHP means a bench player is playing too often.  Happ not playing the last two games means a bench player in in the lineup again.  Bench players should play a minimal amount of games. 

 

Zero homeruns. 2 doubles and a 516 OPS on almost 200 ABs, -.8 WAR. I take issue with Turner still being on the ML roster because a 40 YO, soon to retire DH hitting below the Mendoza line is our best option?

 

inexcusable to go into year 3 with a black hole at the hot corner. I just hope they keep Busch in the lineup vs lefties for now on. He’s your everyday 1st baseman and it’s time team him like one. It’s not like he’ll do any worse than Turner, he’ll be better even vs lefties.

[Geographyhater8888]

On 5/11/2025 at 11:04 PM, Stratos said:

Also need to get guys out in the field to win too.   If the Cubs want Ballesteros to be a catcher he needs to get those defensive reps in the minors, he's still only 21 y/o.  His bat looks pretty much ready though.  Still think they'd prefer him staying down for most of the year.

Hopefully Shaw gets going soon and is back up in the next month or so.

He plays a bit of 1st base too. Obviously the concern is where you’d put Bush and or put Suzuki in left DH Ballesteros move Hoerner and Dansby over and put Happ at 2B where he has experience which will be a net negative defensively,  The net positive from the offense without Berti and Turner will more than compensate ideally.

Plus, you have an awful bench and a guy ranking in Iowa, you want to find a way to use it to your advantage.

[thawv]

1 hour ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Zero homeruns. 2 doubles and a 516 OPS on almost 200 ABs, -.8 WAR. I take issue with Turner still being on the ML roster because a 40 YO, soon to retire DH hitting below the Mendoza line is our best option?

 

inexcusable to go into year 3 with a black hole at the hot corner. I just hope they keep Busch in the lineup vs lefties for now on. He’s your everyday 1st baseman and it’s time team him like one. It’s not like he’ll do any worse than Turner, he’ll be better even vs lefties.

I agree with all of this.  If Busch was hitting LHP, and we had a third baseman, the bench wouldn't matter right now.  Bench players are just that.  The should hardly ever play.  But here we are, with bench players seeing every day action.  Not good. 

[thawv]

19 hours ago, thawv said:

If Happ goes on the DL, it won't be a bad idea to do exactly that. 

And there you have it.  Happ to the DL and Moises called up.